COLORADO SPRINGS, CO - The University of Mary volleyball team battled hard but dropped their first two games of the season to the University of Arkansas Fort Smith (3-1) and Fort Hays State University (3-2) in the Mountain Lion Classic.

FIRST MATCH
The Marauders jumped out to an early 4-0 lead in the first set, but the Lions were able to take control and won 25-22. UMary rallied back to take down the second set 25-23. Charli Blackman's six kills were huge for the Marauders, her last clinching the set for the UMary.

UAFS responded by winning the third set 25-18. The Lions closed out the match in the fourth set, winning 25-17.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Charli Blackman was the Marauders leading attacker, finishing the match with 18 kills. Blackman also added 13 digs.

Maddy Freed paced the Marauders offense as she recorded a team-high 45 assists. The Lawrence, KA, native also contributed five figs, four kills, two blocks, and two aces.

Kaia Sueker posted a team-best 21 digs.

Maddie Cooper was second on the team in kills with 12.

Gabby Caskey recorded nine kills on 17 attacks to give her a hitting percentage of .471%.

SECOND MATCH
UMary's comeback fell just short against FHSU after they dropped their first two sets (25-22, 25-12) but rallied back to take it a fifth set.

The Marauders held a 15-14 lead but won seven straight points to take a 22-14 lead. UMary finished off the Tigers in the third set, winning 25-17.

The fourth set was back and forth, with the Marauders holding a 23-20 lead. Two straight kills by Robi Binagi and Gabby Caskey clinched the 25-20 set victory for UMary.

FHSU jumped out to a 14-9 lead in the fifth set. The Marauders rallied back to make the score 14-13, but a Grace Schmedding kill was enough to clinch the set and the match for the Tigers.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE                                                                                                                                                                                                              
Gabby Caskey was outstanding on the attack as she recorded a team-best 17 kills on 30 attacks to give her a hitting percentage of .500%. Caskey also posted three blocks and three digs.

Maddy Freed led the team in assists with 47, as she also complied eight digs and three blocks.

Charli Blackman posted 15 kills and 11 digs.

Kaia Sueker recorded the most digs on the Marauders with 15.

Maddie Cooper put up 13 kills and three blocks.

UP NEXT   
The Marauders finish the Mountain Lion Classic with two games on Saturday, September 7. UMary opens the day against Cameron University at 10 am and finishes the tournament against hosts the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs at 4:45 pm.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            
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